Fantasy football “expert” Steve McDaniel is back with more thoughts, predictions and witty metaphors as the NFL season kicks off in earnest on Sunday afternoon.

If you're not going after Kevin Ogletree on the waiver wire ... well, what's wrong with you?

It happens every fantasy season, but usually not this early.

The unknown, unheralded and undrafted third-stringer blasts out of oblivion with a huge game, suddenly becoming more popular than a new iPhone.

Fantasy owners are scrambling to find out whom, exactly, Kevin Ogletree is and how they can add him to their rosters. The former Virginia standout spent the past three seasons in oblivion with the Cowboys, but Wednesday night’s two-TD, 114-yard performance put an end to that.

According to ESPN.com, Ogletree was owned in 0.5 percent of all of its fantasy leagues, which leaves me to wonder: What the heck did that 0.5 percent of owners know that the rest of us didn’t?

Fantasy history is filled with stories of waiver-wire heroes. Whether Ogletree becomes this year’s Laurent Robinson (the guy he replaced on the Cowboys’ depth chart) remains to be seen, but it’s a sure bet that he’ll be one of the most sought-after free agents in fantasy land this week.

It’s really easy to fall in love with these out-of-nowhere fantasy temptations. The back end of most rosters is littered with long shots and part-timers, and the lure of a player who flashes top-10 potential can be overwhelming.

And while you can build a solid fantasy team through shrewd drafting, the waiver wire is where most teams secure their playoff spots. Every one of us will have top picks flame out due to injury or plain ineptitude, and if you can’t fill those holes via trades, the waiver wire is where you look.

Most leagues’ free-agent lists look like your lazy neighbor’s swimming pool in March – a few inches of murky, dank water covered by murky, dank vegetation.

But you should look before you leap into that free-agent pool. In Ogletree’s case, he had a variety of factors that worked in his favor. Virtually the whole Cowboys receiving corps was dealing with some sort of injury, and it’s highly unlikely the Giants did any game-planning for Ogletree.

So this could be one of those cases where an average player just sort of snuck up on the opposition for one glorious week, then quickly reverts to his more familiar role of chasing kick returners on special teams. After all, it’s no accident Ogletree caught just 25 passes in three seasons.

Or it might be that he’s assured himself a more prominent role in Dallas’ offense. Miles Austin, Dez Bryant and Jason Witten make it tough for anyone else to get much love in the passing game, but injuries have bothered all three in their careers.

Robinson made great use of Austin’s injury issues last season, parlaying his 11-TD season into a fat contract with the Jaguars. We can’t know yet what Ogletree’s season will look like, but he is worth a waiver-wire grab, even if he never again approaches the lofty numbers of Week 1.

If all you’re giving up is Brandon LaFell, what have you got to lose?

Fantasy football “expert” Steve McDaniel has chased waiver-wire mirages many, many times in the past. Most have evaporated in the stark reality of failure, but he is particularly proud of scooping up a young Shaun Alexander in 2001 and enjoying his 16-TD campaign.

Three to Watch returns fwith a look at some quarterbacks who will get a lot of attention in Week 1.

PEYTON MANNING, QB, BRONCOS: A one-time undeniable fantasy super stud, the 36-year-old Manning comes into the 2012 season with more question marks than at any time since he first trotted onto an NFL field back in 1998. Multiple neck surgeries put his career in jeopardy, but he appears to be whole again. He hasn’t taken a snap in a real game since a January, 2011 playoff loss to the Jets. And now he must learn a new offense with a whole new set of players. What does it all mean? Who really knows? One thing for sure, when the Broncos and Steelers tee it up Sunday night, a lot of people will be watching. And no one should expect the Peyton Manning of his prime, at least not yet, and especially not against a stout Steelers defense. There will be some times he’ll look ordinary, other times he’ll show flashes of that MVP form. In other words, a lot of inconsistency to start, but likely better days as the season wears on. As for his Week 1 prospects, I think anything more than 200 yards and one, maybe two TDs would be gravy for Manning owners.

ROBERT GRIFFIN III, QB, REDSKINS: Half of the most hyped tandem of rookie QBs since Bill Clinton was president, the Heisman Trophy winner out of Baylor had to wait one pick while the Colts took Andrew Luck. The Redskins certainly hope they didn’t get stuck with another Ryan Leaf after the Colts, who passed on Leaf for Peyton Manning at No. 1 in 1998, made Luck the top pick. RGIII makes his debut Sunday in the Superdome against the pass-happy Saints. While Drew Brees and Co. like to pile up the air miles, the Saints defense usually returns the favor to their opponent. Griffin doesn’t want to get into a shootout with Brees, because he doesn’t have the weapons or experience to try to match New Orleans yard for yard, but he could be in line for a big game in his debut. A 275-yard, two-or-three TD outing is not out of the realm of possibility.

RUSSELL WILSON, QB, SEAHAWKS: Every N.C. State fan knows the painful details of Wilson’s odd departure from Raleigh and his reemergence with the Wisconsin Badgers after a brief flirtation with baseball. An obviously talented two-sport athlete, I don’t think too many people expected him to be starting his very first NFL game under center. The Seahawks spent big to bring Matt Flynn out from under Aaron Rodgers’ considerable shadow, but Wilson won the job with a stellar preseason. He’s not as big as Cam Newton, but his style is similar in that he likes to create open passing lanes with his scrambling. The Seahawks have struggled at QB since Matt Hasselbeck’s career started to decline after their Super Bowl season of 2005, and they hope they’ve got a winner for the future in Wilson. He gets a favorable matchup for his debut in a middling Arizona defense, but road games are tough even for veteran QBs. Star RB Marshawn Lynch also might be out or limited, so I’d be surprised if Wilson manages much more than 175 yards, one to two TDs and maybe 50 more yards on the ground.

About This Blog

Howdy. I’m sports editor Dan Spears, and I keep everything straightened up around here — with thoughts on pretty much anything to do with sports, both locally and nationally. I’ve been with the StarNews since August 2006, and sports editor since September 2008. I’m a big college basketball fan and have been to the first weekend of the NCAAs every year since 1997, either as a fan or a writer. I attempt to play golf, run marathons and play volleyball here in town at Capt’n Bill’s on Market Street. Enjoy reading, and let me know what you’re thinking … Dan